Does This Guy Look Racist?

Turns out this was one costly trip for Sal Alosi. The New York Jets assistant coach who tripped a Miami Dolphins player during a game was suspended by the team Monday night without pay for the rest of the season, including the playoffs, and fined an additional $25,000. Alosi, the strength and conditioning coach, began serving his suspension immediately and will have no access to the team’s practice facility.

“I accept responsibility for my actions and respect the team’s decision,” Alosi said in a statement. General manager Mike Tannenbaum said Alosi will also not be allowed to interact with any players or coaches “as it pertains to his job function.” He added that the team spoke with the NFL about the incident throughout the day, and the league will issue no further discipline. “Hopefully we’re going to learn from what happened yesterday and take full responsibility for it,” Tannenbaum said. “We’re really disappointed with Sal, with what happened, and we’re going to hold him accountable for his actions.”
Alosi stuck out his left knee on the sideline and tripped Dolphins cornerback Nolan Carroll, who was covering a punt in the third quarter of Miami’s 10-6 win Sunday.

“I let everybody down yesterday with my actions,” said Alosi, fighting back tears during a news conference earlier Monday. “My actions were inexcusable and irresponsible.” Carroll, a rookie, fell to the turf and lay there for several minutes before walking off. “That’s a thing that has no business in this league,” coach Rex Ryan said, “or anywhere else.” Alosi said he apologized by phone to both Carroll and Dolphins coach Tony Sparano on Sunday, and spoke to Ryan, Tannenbaum and Jets owner Woody Johnson about the situation. Ryan issued a public apology to Carroll and the Dolphins at his news conference.

“I was stunned that something like this actually took place,” Ryan said. Ryan added that he admired the fact Alosi never denied what he did, and “that he stood up and he took responsibility.” “I know I’ll get killed for it,” Ryan said. “There’s no place for it in football, without question, but he made a mistake and he admitted it.” Alosi was standing next to several inactive players right on the edge of the sideline as Carroll came zipping by, leading some to speculate that perhaps the incident was planned.

“We don’t coach that,” Tannenbaum said, echoing earlier comments by Ryan and Alosi. Alosi was first with the Jets from 2001-05, then worked for the Falcons for one season before he was hired by then-New York coach Eric Mangini in 2007 to be the head strength and conditioning coach. Now with the Cleveland Browns, Mangini described Alosi as “a good person.”

“He made a dumb mistake,” Mangini said. “If he could take it back, I’m sure he would. It’s disappointing it happened. I’m sorry for the whole situation. Alosi will be replaced for the rest of the season by his assistant, Bryan Dermody. Alosi was a linebacker for Hofstra from 1996-2000, and even earned an award for sportsmanship and fair play both on and off the field during his college career.

SMH. What the fawk was this guy thinking anyway??? For some reason he seems like some bitter former college athlete who has a chip on his shoulder because he could only make it in the league as a “strength and conditioning” coach…SMH.